Apparatus for treating granular material



Dec. 17, 1968 LQUKS 3,416,239

APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRANULAR MATERIAL Filed Jan. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iiww wf firrapmsy Dec. 17, 1968 A. QLOUKS APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRANULAR MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1966 R m w M 905527 4. A OUAS United States Patent 3,416,239 APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRAN ULAR MATERIAL Robert A. Louks, Gilman, Iowa 50106 Filed Jan. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 519,540 Claims. (Cl. 34-211) This invention relates to an apparatus for treating granular material.

Two popular forms of drying granular material are the bin layer dryer and the batch-in-bin dryer. The former, equipped with a fan and a heat unit, dries the granular material in layers. Heated air is forced through the granular material thereby absorbing moisture and thus reducing the moisture content of the granular material. Upon obtaining a predetermined moisture content in the first layer, a second layer is added and the drying process recommences. This process of adding layers and forcing air therethrough continues, until the bin is filled. The heated air is forced into the bin under the first layer, therefore it is obvious that the lower levels in the bin are subjected to the drying process several times. The bin layer dryer requires a substantial amount of time to dry a full bin of granular material. The lower levels can not be overheated or overdried because of possible damage to the kernel and loss of profit, therefore requiring the constant attention of an operator to prevent overdrying and overheating.

To overcome the disadvantages of the bin layer dryer, operators are changing to a batch-in-bin dryer system. Herein the granular material is dried in a layer and then transferred to a storage bin. The speed of drying is increased considerably because higher temperatures are utilized, higher velocities of air are possible, and each layer is dried only once. The big disadvantage to this system of drying is the excessive handling of the granular material which increases the drying costs and the possible damage thereto by over handling.

It is an object of this invention to combine the advantages of bin layer dryer and the batch-in-bin dryer by providing an apparatus for treating granular material, wherein the granular material is both batch dried and stored within the same bin.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for treating granular material, wherein drying can be performed without damage to the granular material because of overdrying.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for treating granular material, wherein excessive handling of the granular material is eliminated.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for treating granular material, wherein the moisture content thereof regulates the temperature of the air utilized in drying the granular material.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for treating granular material as described above which includes facilities for curing the material after drying.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for treating granular material, having curing facilities installed therein, which provides cool air to granular material under storage, to prevent spoilage thereto because of improper aeration.

An object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for treating granular material which is self controlling, thus negating the requirement that the apparatus be under the constant control of an operator.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for treating granular material, wherein within a conventional grain drying bin, grain can be dried, cured, aerated, and stored; and with one batch of grain being 3,416,239 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 dried simultaneously with the curing, aeration and storage of a former batch of grain.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for treating granular material capable of attaining the above designated objects, which is economical to manufacture, simple and rugged in structure, and effective in operation.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus for treating granular material, certain parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, with certain parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the humidity control system for the apparatus of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, an apparatus for treating granular materials of this invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, and is used primarily for the drying, curing, aeration and storage of granular material 11.

The apparatus 10 includes a conventional circular drying bin 12 (FIG. 1), having a side wall 13 and a conically shaped roof 14 mounted therein. An opening 16 is formed in the apex of the roof 14, and a tubular sleeve 17, communicating the interior 18 of the bin 12 with the exterior, is inserted therein. A hopper 19 is rotatably mounted inside the bin 12, having a top end 21 communicating with the sleeve 17, and having a base end 22 disposed vertically downwardly therefrom, as viewed in FIG. 2. An elevator 23, is disposed above the roof 14, for the purpose of supplying granular material 11 to the hopper 19.

Mounted near the top of the side wall 13 is a circular track 24 (FIG. 2), extending completely around the bin 12. A horizontally disposed, rotatable granular material leveler 26 is disposed in the bin 12, with one auger end 27 thereof riding on the track 24, and with the other end thereof 28 secured to the hopper 19. Formed in a wall of the leveler tube are a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 29 disposed in a spiral relationship as illustrated. The auger 30 is axially mounted in the leveler tube, and is driven by a motor 31 mounted on the side of the hopper '19. Rotation of the auger end 27 on the track 24 effects rotation of the leveler 26 in a circular manner around the bin 12. The purpose and operations of the leveler 26 will be described hereinafter.

An upper, horizontally disposed, perforated floor 32 (FIG. 2) is mounted in the bin 12, and supported therein by a substructure 33. The upper floor 32 is adapted to support a quantity or batch of granular material 11, and separates the interior 18 of the bin 12 into an upper compartment 34 and a lower compartment 36. The perforations in the upper fioor are of a size to allow air to circulate therethrough and yet prevent granular material from falling through. The substructure 33 includes a plurality of slanted braces 37, secured on the lower ends 38 thereof, as viewed in FIG. 2, to a plurality of vertically disposed columns 39 mounted adjacent the side wall 13; and secured at the upper ends 41 thereof to a rectangularly shaped, horizontally disposed, open framework 42. The framework 42 is additionally supported on the corners thereof by the columns 39. The framework 42 also includes diagonal braces 43, having one end thereof mounted on the column 39 and the other end culminating at substantially the center of the bin, wherein it is attached to a sump-type housing 44.

Mounted on top of the framework 42 are a plurality of laterally spaced beams 46 (FIG. 3). These beams 46 are also supported by a plurality of arcuately spaced horizontally disposed end braces 47 fastened to the inner wall of the sidewalls 13. A horizontally disposed subflooring comprising a plurality of parallel beams 48 (FIG. 3) is secured on top of the beams 46 and supports the upper floor 32.

Five right angular apertures 49 (FIG. 3) are formed in the upper floor 32, one in the center thereof, with the other four laterally spaced therefrom and arcuately spaced from each other. The sump-type housing 44, secured to the substructure, is disposed immediately below, as best shown in FIG. 4, each of the apertures 49. The housing 44 is open at the top and bottom thereof, and closed on the four sides. A trap door 51 is slidably mounted in the base of the housing 44, wherein upon the sliding thereof to an open position, as indicated by dotted line position in FIG. 4, granular material 11 disposed in the upper compartment 34 will be dumped to the lower compartment 36. The trap door 51, mounted in the center housing 44, is connected to a horizontally disposed rod 52 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which extends outwardly through the sidewall 13 of the bin 12. The other four trap doors 51 are connected to connecting rods 53 which are secured to the main rod 52. A lever 54 (FIG. 2), secured to the main rod 52 and to the outside of the sidewall 13, is operable to reciprocally move the rod 52 and thus the connecting rods 53, thus simultaneously opening or closing all trap doors 51.

The center housing 44 has a plurality of joists 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4) mounted in the top thereof, which form a support for a rotatable device 57 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The device 57 has one vertically disposed rotatable shaft 58 (FIG. 4) and one horizontally disposed rotatable shaft 59 mounted therein. The vertical shaft 58 extends downwardly, as best shown in FIG. 4, and is rotatably secured in a bushing 61 secured to the joists 56. A sweep auger 62, having one end 63 thereof mounted on the horizontal shaft 59 and having the other end 64 thereof mounted in a wheel 66, disposed near the periphery of the upper floor 32, is horizontally disposed slightly above the upper floor 32.

A motor 65 (FIG. 2), secured to the device 57 and belt connected to the shafts 58 and S9, is operable to rotate the device 57 about its vertical shaft 58, thus causing the sweep auger to rotate about the center of the upper floor 32, and simultaneously to cause the sweep auger 62 to rotate about its axis. The purpose of the sweep auger 62 will be described hereinafter.

Formed in the sidewall 13 immediately below the upper floor 32 is an opening 67 (FIG. 2). A blower system 68 (FIG. 1), having a heating unit (not shown) installed therein, is mounted to the sidewalls 13, and is fluidly communicable with the lower compartment 36 through the opening 67. The blower system 68 supplies air to the lower compartment 36, which percolates upwardly through the lower floor 32 and the granular material 11 disposed thereon. The heating unit is controlled by a moisture sensing device 69 (FIG. 2) which projects into the granular material. The sensing device 69 and its operation will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A lower concrete or the like foundation 71 (FIG. 2) is provided at the base of the bin 12, and has an X- shaped trough 72 formed therein. Spaced above the surface of the foundation 71 is a perforated plate 73 similar to the upper floor 32. Likewise, the plate 73 serves as a lower floor. One leg of the trough 72 fluidly communicates to the exterior of the bin through a hole 74 formed in the sidewall 13. A second blower system 75 (FIG. I) is attached to the outer surface of the sidewall 13, and is fluidly communicable with the trough 72 through the hole 74. Upon energizing the blower, air is forced into the trough 72 whereupon it percolates upwardly through the perforated floor 73 and through the granular material 11 stored in the lower compartment 36 for aeration purposes.

At the center of the lower floor 71, a sump opening 76 is formed therein which is fluidly communicable with a tunnel 77 formed in the lower floor 71. The tunnel 77 leads from the sump opening 76 to a pit 78 (FIGS. 1 and 2) formed in the ground immediately outside the bin 12. An auger 79 is axially mounted in the tunnel, with one end 81 thereof secured to a gear housing 82 mounted in the base of the sump opening 76, and with the other end 83 extending into the pit 78. A third motor 84 is mounted on the outside of the bin 12 and belt connected to the auger 77.

The gear housing 82 has a vertically disposed shaft 86 rotatably mounted therein and extending upwardly therefrom. Secured to the upper part of the shaft 86 is a second gear housing 87. A second sweep auger 88 similar to the first sweep auger 62 is rotatably attached thereto. The motor 84 is operable to rotate the auger 77 which in turn causes the second sweep auger 88 to rotate about its horizontal axis and to rotate about the shaft 86. The purpose of the auger 77 and the second sweep auger 88 will be described hereinafter.

The sensing device 69 (FIG. 5) is provided for controlling the heat supplied to the air, which the first blower 68 injects into the bin 12. It includes a thermocouple 91 connected to a temperature control setting device 92, a power supply 93, a solenoid switch 94, a fluid control valve 96, an on-ofi indicator light 97, and a reset switch 98. The components of the sensing device 69 are wired as follows: the negative terminal of the power supply is connected by wire 101 to a junction 102; a wire 103 leads from the junction 102 to the temperature control setting device 92, the junction 102 is also connected to one pole of the reset switch 98 by a Wire 104 and to the solenoid switch 94 by a wire 106; a wire 107 connects the temperature control setting device 92 to the solenoid switch 94, the solenoid switch 94 is also connected by a wire 108 to the other pole of the reset switch 98, and to a junction 109 by a wire 111; the junction 109 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 93 by a wire 112, and to a junction 113 by a wire 114; the junction 113 is connected by a wire 116 to the indicator light 97, and to the valve 96 by wire 117; the indicator light 97 is connected by a wire 118 to a junction 119; the junction 119 is connected to the valve 96 by a wire 121 and to the solenoid switch 94 by a wire 122. The valve 96 is interposed in a fuel line 123, and is operable to regulate the amount of fuel feeding the heating unit (not shown).

In operation, the temperature control setting device 92 is set at a predetermined value and the reset switch 98 is manually closed. By closing the reset switch 98, electrical energy closes the solenoid switch 94 and electricity flows through the circuit. When the moisture content of the granular material is reduced to a predetermined amount, as determined by the temperature control setting device 92, the solenoid switch 94 opens and the circuit is broken between the power supply 93 and the valve 96. The opening of the circuit causes the valve 96 to close, thus shutting off the supply of fuel to the heating unit. The valve can be reopened only by again manually closing the reset switch 98.

To operate the apparatus 10, granualar material such as corn is supplied to the hopper 19. The motor 31 is started by pulling the cord 124 (FIG. 2), at ground level, which cord is attached to a rotary switch 126 electrically connected to the motor 31. The corn flows from the hopper 19 into the leveler 26 which distributes the corn in a pile in the upper compartment 34, the surface of which is substantially level. A certain amount, or a batch of corn is thus placed on the upper floor 32.

Heated air is supplied by the blower 68 below th upper floor 32 wherein it percolates upwardly through the upper fioor 32 and the corn, as indicated by the arrows 127. The heated air absorbs the moisture from the corn 11 and carries it from the bin 12. Upon reaching a predetermined humidity value, the heat is turned off by operation of the sensing device 69, however, the blower continues to operate thus commencing the process of reducing the temperature of the granular material to atmospheric conditions.

At the completion of the drying cycle, as indicated by the light 97 being oif, the trap doors 51 are opened by moving the lever 54, thus dropping the batch of corn 11 to the lower compartment. The evacuation of the upper compartment is assisted by the first sweep auger 62 which carries the corn to the apertures 49. In a 21' bin, about 2 to 2 /2 of corn is placed in the upper area 34, with the drying temperature set at approximately 140 F.

Upon the evacuation of the upper compartment 34, an additional batch of corn 11 may be added thereto and the drying process repeated. The corn 11 that has been dumped into the lower compartment 36 is then cured for four to six hours.

Aeration is provided by energizing the second blower 75, to force cool air through the trough 72 and into the com 11 in the lower compartment 36, as indicated by the arrows 128 (FIG. 2). The cool air, as it passes through the lower compartment will absorb heat from the granular material and carry it upwardly. Advantageously, the cool air, now heated, passes through the perforations in the upper floor 32 and augments the heated air supplied by the first blower 68. To evacuate the com 11 from the lower compartment 36, the second sweep auger 88 is operated to move the corn to the sump opening 76, then the third motor 84 is energized and the corn is carried out of the bin 12, through the tunnel 77 and into the pit 78.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described and disclosed hereinbefore, it is to be remembered that various modifications and alternate constructions can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

It can thus be fully appreciated that rather than bin layer drying a plurality of levels of grain, with the attendant many disadvantages of over drying and of long hours for each step, the present ultilization of a bin for simultaneous batch drying, curing, aerating, and storing of grain provides inumerable advantages over the present day use of grain drying bins.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin having a lower floor comprising:

an upper horizontally disposed, perforated floor mounted in said bin and adapted to support a quantity of granular material, said upper floor separating said bin into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, and further wherein said upper floor includes a plurality of apertures formed therein, and with a sweep auger movably mounted on top of said upper floor for moving the granular material to said apertures;

means for supplying heated air below said upper floor,

whereby the heated air percolates through said upper floor and through said granular material;

means for dumping the granular material from said upper compartment to said lower compartment, said dumping means including a plurality of slidable doors, each of said doors mounted in one of said apertures, and further wherein said doors are connected to reciprocally movable means, whereby said doors are operable to dump the granular material from said upper compartment to said lower compartment, and further wherein said movable means is operable externally of the bin;

means for evacuating the granular material from said lower compartment, wherein said evacuating means comprises an auger mounted below the lower floor, and communicable on one end thereof with the granular material and on the other end thereof externally of the bin;

leveling means mounted in said upper compartment for maintaining the granular material in a pile the surface of which is substantially level;

control means mounted in said upper compartment for measuring the moisture content of the granular material and operable to control the operation of said heated air means;

the lower floor being perforated;

means for supplying air below the lower floor whereby the air percolates through the lower floor and through said granular material; and

a second sweep auger movably mounted on the lower floor, said second sweep auger operable to move the granular material to said evacuating auger. 2. Apparatus for treating granular material as defined in claim 1, and further wherein said upper floor includes an upper perforated floor section and a lower floor section spaced downwardly from said upper floor section, said lower floor section impervious to air, and wherein the heated air from said means for supplying heated air is directed between said upper floor section and said lower floor section and flows upwardly through said upper floor section into said upper compartment.

3. Apparatus for treating granular material in a conventional circular storage bin having a lower floor comprising:

an upper substantially horizontally disposed, perforated floor stationarily mounted in the bin and added to support a quantity of granular material, said upper floor separating said bin into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said upper floor having a plurality of apertures formed therein;

a sweep auger arcuately and axially movably mounted on top of said upper floor for moving the granular material to said apertures;

means for supplying heated air below said upper floor for percolation upwardly therethrough;

means for dumping the granular material from said upper compartment to said lower compartment including a plurality of trap doors, each of said doors mounted in an aperture, and including further means for retractably moving said doors to an open position relative to said apertures;

leveling means mounted in said upper compartment about said upper floor for receiving the granular material and distributing it in a pile on said upper floor the surface of which is substantially level;

control means mounted in said upper compartment for controlling the heated air supplying means in response to the moisture content of the granular material; and

auger means operable to move the granular material parallel to the surface of the lower floor for evacuating the granular material from said lower compartment.

4. Apparatus for treating granular material as defined in claim 3, and wherein the lower floor is perforated, and further wherein means is provided for supplying air beneath the lower floor for percolation upwardly through the lower floor and through the granular material.

5. Apparatus for treating granular material in a conventional circular storage bin having a lower floor comprising:

an upper substantially horizontally disposed, perforated floor stationarily mounted in the bin and adapted to support a quantity of granular material, said upper floor separating said bin into an upper compartment a lower compartment, said upper floor having a plurality of apertures formed therein;

a sweep auger arcuately and axially movably mounted the lower floor being substantially horizontally disposed, 15

perforated, and stationarily mounted in said bin; means for supplying air beneath said lower floor for percolation upwardly therethrough; and means for evacuating the granular material from said 8 lower compartment, said evacuating means including a second sweep auger mounted on said lower floor, and including another auger mounted below said lower floor and communicable On one end thereof with the granular material and on the other end thereof externally of the bin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 316,353 4/1885 Free 34-173 410,085 8/1889 Gent 34-173 XR 794,313 7/1905 Rice. 2,806,297 9/1957 Hutchins 34-173 3,044,182 7/1962 Steffen 34-50 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRANULAR MATERIAL IN A CIRCULAR STORAGE BIN HAVING A LOWER FLOOR COMPRISING AN UPPER HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, PERFORATED FLOOR MOUNTED IN SAID BIN AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A QUANTITY OF GRANULAR MATERIAL, SAID UPPER FLOOR SEPARATING SAID BIN INTO AN UPPER COMPARTMENT AND A LOWER COMPARTMENT, AND FURTHER WHEREIN SAID UPPER FLOOR INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF APERTURES FORMED THEREIN, AND WITH A SWEEP AUGER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON TOP OF SAID UPPER FLOOR FOR MOVING THE GRANULAR MATERIAL TO SAID APERTURES; MEANS FOR SUPPLYING HEATED AIR BELOW SAID UPPER FLOOR, WHEREBY THE HEATED AIR PERCOLATES THROUGH SAID UPPER FLOOR AND THROUGH SAID GRANULAR MATERIAL; MEANS FOR DUMPING THE GRANULAR MATERIAL FROM SAID UPPER COMPARTMENT TO SAID LOWER COMPARTMENT, SAID DUMPING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SLIDABLE DOORS, EACH OF SAID DOORS MOUNTED INONE OF SAID APERTURES AND FURTHER WHEREIN SAID DOORS ARE CONNECTED TO RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE MEANS, WHEREBY SAID DOORS ARE OPERABLE TO DUMP THE GRANULAR MATERIAL FROM SAID UPPER COMPARTMENT TO SAID LOWER COMPARTMENT, AND FURTHER WHEREIN SAID MOVABLE MEANS IS OPERABLE EXTERNALLY OF THE BIN; 